California Chrome recovering well, slated for six weeks of rest

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome continues to show progress from a grabbed quarter sustained when he finished in a dead heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, assistant trainer Alan Sherman said Friday.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in May, California Chrome is tentatively scheduled to be sent to the River Ranch division of Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., on Wednesday for six weeks of rest.

Sherman, the son of trainer Art Sherman, said California Chrome has responded to treatment on a small wound to his right front heel. The affected area could be largely cleared up by the time he leaves Los Alamitos next week, Alan Sherman said.

“It won’t be gone, but it will be healed,” he said. “It will have a little spot. We don’t have to worry about infection or a quarter crack. We’ll have him back here by Aug. 1. He’s so fit now. He shouldn’t lose a lot of condition.”

Autumn plans for California Chrome center on the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, with an expected prep race in late September.

Owned by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome has won 8 of 13 starts and earned $3,532,650. The loss in the Belmont Stakes ended a string of six consecutive stakes wins.